Life-saving apparatus for boats



(No Model.)

D. W. LOW.

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS POR BOATS.

No. 280,842. Patented July 110, 1888.

NVQ-FDH d ow N. PEIERS, Pholmndgnpher. wnshingwn. ILC,

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID W. LOV, OF GLOUCESTER, VMASSACHUSETTS.

LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS FOR BOATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,842, dated July 10, 1883.

Application filed March 19, 1883.

l'o LZZ whom, t may concern Be it known that I, DAvID W. Low, of Glou cester, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Apparatus for Boats, of which the following is a specification.

This apparatus is especially applicable to dories, but it may be used in lconnection with boats of any style or build; and the invention consists in a dory or other boat constructed as below described, in order that it may include in its construction apparatus for 'saving and sustaining life.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts, Figure I is a cross-section of a dory constructed S0 asto embody my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan'of the compartment or box with the cover laid b ack. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan of the under side of the boat at the point of one of the plugs. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of the bottom of the boat at the same point.

A represents the bottom, and A the sides, of a dory.

a is the rail, and Bthe rowing-thwart.

C is a box or compartment, of which O is the cover or lid, provided:l with chambers D, t

containing bottles or packages of food in liquid or other form, E, and chambers F G by the side of the chamber D, containing, respectively, the upper and lower life-li11es,fg. When not in use these life-lines lie in' their chambers with the knots or ringsf g in the chambers h in the plugs H, suitable passages Abeing prepared leading from' the chambers F G to the chambers h.

I is the cover of the plug H, hinged at .I thereto, and. having its rear end, I, ofthe shape shown, whereby it bears against the spring K, and is held shut or open in a vertical position by the-pressure of said spring, which may be of rubber or other material. vA space, L, is left, so that the ngers may be inserted and the cover operated. An elastic vring or packing, I), prevents ingress or egress of water.

R R are vessels to be used for bailing purposes, provided with the handles R (secured to the rails a by the lanyards T) and the beckets or straps S. .The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

(Nomodcl.) Y

In case the dory is capsized the men grasp, by means of the spaces L, the lids I of the plugs H, swing open said lids, and grasp the knotted ends gf of the life-lines g f, which are prevented from entirely leaving the plugs by knots in their opposite ends. These life-lines are used to right the boat. Then by coiling the lines about their bodies the men have their hands free aud can grasp the bailing-vessels (having first hauled them up by means of the lanyards T) by the handles R and beckets S and bail out the boat. Then by lifting the cover C the food in the chambers D is reached, by means of which life may be sustained for a considerable time.

The plugs may be so placed as to allow the life-lines to pass through the bottom or the sides of the boat, as desired.

Although the shape shown of the bailing- 7o vessel Ris perhaps preferable, I do not confine myself to it.

The box O is of course properly secured' to the bottom of the boat, and may be centrally or otherwise situated therein, or it may be se-A cured to any other portion of the boat if found practicable.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I. The combination, with the bottom A of a boat, of the metallic plug H, provided with the lid I I', spring K, and packing I), substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the bottom A of a boat, ofthe metallic plug H, provided with the lid I and chamber h for the reception of the end or handle of a life-line, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. The combinationof a lifeline placed in the inside of a boat and passing through its bottom or side, and aboat so constructed that said life-line may be reached from the outside of the boat and drawn through the bottom or sides of the same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a boat, the combination therewith of the box C, placed in the bottom thereof and provided with the lid C', said box being also provided with the longitudinally arranged 10o food-chambers D D, made end to end, and the longitudinal life-line chambers E G, arranged side of said food-chambers and one above the other, substantially as and for Jche purpose described.

5. In a boat, the combination of the box C, conveniently placed therein7 and provided with chambers or compartments F G for the reception of life-lines, Jche life-lines f g and the plngsH7 set into the boat and connecting with said chambers7 said plugs being separated from the outside of Jche boat by lids I, and provided With chambers 7L for the reception of the knotted or enlarged ends j" g' of the life-1i nes, whereby separation of the lines from the boat is prevented, substantially as and for the purpose seb forth. 1 6. In a boat, Jche combination therewith of the bailing-vessels R, placed against the sides thereof, and secured to the rail by means of lanyards T, extending from said rail to handles R of the vessels, said vessels being also 2o provided with beckets S, substantially :1s and for the purpose described.

DAVID XV. LOXV. Witnesses HENRY W. WiLLIAMs, JOSEPH Isi-rAUei-L 

